Recent governments have transformed the English education system from an arrangement of local, democratically managed, groups of schools into a market free-for-all in which individual schools compete for pupils, status and resources. Elements of a market exist in the relationship between parents and private schools but much market behaviour is…

Describes the nature of school effects on academic achievement for different groups of students based on performance in selected subjects. Uses a "value added" approach, controlling for students' backgrounds. Indicates that schools that are more or less effective for one group of students are likely to be similarly effective for all…

Value-added measures of school effectiveness are reviewed in relation to the British government's requirement for schools to publish raw examination results. A series of multilevel analyses of examination results found that most variation in pupil outcomes could be explained by pupil intake factors suggesting the greater importance of…

At the 10th International Congress for School Effectiveness and School Improvement, participants noted progress in effectiveness research regarding development of outcome measures, size effects, measures of educational processes, and variables contributing to effectiveness. School-improvement research has focused on schools' status changes,…

School-effectiveness research has contributed to the global pressures on education, but should now concentrate on establishing more knowledge about the complex interactions between culture and schooling. This article raises questions concerning educational researchers' role in furthering education advances and building a more just society.…

This paper draws on school-effectiveness research to address issues concerned with effective learning and effective teaching, and the role of the school in promoting these processes. The following questions are addressed: What do we know about effective learning and teaching? How does the effective schools research contributed to this debate? What…

Research findings on effective learning are limited, since mental activity is covert and learning can only be inferred from subsequent responses. Integrating such concepts as ability, motivation, self-efficacy, and perseverance is difficult. The respective roles of modeling, expectations, instruction, and feedback are not well understood.…

A Scottish national study examined relationships between pupil background characteristics and performance in reading and mathematics at 80 primary and secondary schools. Age within the grade level, gender, and socioeconomic disadvantage had varying effects on achievement in different grades. School-level variations were more marked for primary…

Reviews research related to school effectiveness and how this research has been applied to various school improvement projects in the United Kingdom. Issues to be addressed include the possibility of creating a national database of student examination results and examining differences in effectiveness within schools, as well as between students…

Amidst controversy over proposed school closings, Hereford and Worcester (England) local education authorities (LEA) asked for an evaluation of the effectiveness of six small rural "comprehensive" secondary schools (180-450 students) and their importance to surrounding communities. Data were collected on student achievement; teacher and…

The main trends in urban education, particularly in England and the United Kingdom, are reviewed and analysed, along with descriptions of a series of projects and interventions. In particular, the paper: reviews the relevant research evidence about the current state of urban education; considers the scope for change; reports on worthwhile…